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March 29, 2024
Politics

Nigerians celebrate Christmas amid hardships

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. Enthusiastic citizens besiege markets to make purchases ahead of today’s celebration
…say ‘bad situation won’t stop us from enjoying Christmas’

Inspite of the hardships occasioned by the parlous economy, galloping inflation, very weak Naira, fuel scarcity and high cost of petrol as well as skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs compounded by perennial insecurity and widespread violence, Nigerians still deem it necessary to celebrate this year’s Christmas.

Enthusiastic Christians and Nigerians of other faiths alike have been upbeat about the yearly celebration as they have continued to frantically prepare for this special day.

Undaunted and undeterred by the prevailing hardships in the country, our correspondents reported that Nigerians in several parts of the country, on Saturday, trooped to different markets around their localities to make purchases in preparation for the Christmas celebrations.

Many were observed thronging cow, ram, goat and chicken markets to buy livestocks to be slaughtered for the Christmas celebrations.

Many were equally seen haggling with traders at the various condiments markets to buy pepper, tomatoes and other cooking ingredients.

Many were also seen at the various textile and clothing markets making orders and purchases.

In several parts of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states, many residents were observed on Saturday cooking and roasting their goats, rams and chickens in preparation for today’s Christmas celebrations with family and friends.

In the South-East, inspite of the widespread insecurity, residents of Imo, Enugu, Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi were still observed frantically preparing for the Christmas as they stormed the various markets to make purchases in anticipation of the celebration of the special day.

In the North-West states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, feelings of the Christmas celebrations were palpable among the Christian communities inspite of the threat posed to security by ravaging bandits and terrorists.

The same subdued frenzy feelings pervaded the atmosphere in the North-East states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe. But the Christian population in these states, it was observed, remained upbeat about the Christmas celebrations.

Although many Nigerians had ahead of the Christmas expressed worry over the high cost of food items, including meat and cooking condiments in the markets, they are still been compelled to incur the expenses to make merry during this Yuletide.

A resident of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Otunba Kunle Adekoya, who spoke with our correspondent, said celebrating Christmas as a Christian, had become a yearly ritual that himself, his immediate and extended family members and friends must come together to celebrate, regardless of what it may cost him in terms of funds.

According to him, ”Christmas is a day we celebrate once in a year. so, as a Christian, I must make provisions for the yearly event, regardless of the high cost of foodstuffs and meat. I must buy at least a ram or goat. We must party on this special day.”

Luka Joseph, resident in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, said although it’s not compulsory to throw big parties during Christmas, it’s a day worthy to be celebrated.

“On Christmas, I’ll do the little I can for my children, other family members and friends around me. We must celebrate the special day anyhow,” he said.

Churches in many of the aforementioned states were also observed making preparations for today’s special Christmas services.

While exterior of many of them are now wearing fresh coats of paint, the interior of many more have been decorated with Christmas lights and other Yuletide decorations.



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